More than 130 former high political and administrative officials call on the Georgian authorities to transfer Mikheil Saakashvili abroad for treatment. The fourth president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, spread the above appeal.

According to the statement, “the evaluations of both the Council created by the Public Defender of Georgia and the independent group of American medical experts unmistakably confirm that the life of Mikheil Saakashvili cannot be preserved in Georgia and the process will end with his death by torture”.

“We are not discussing the issue of his guilt. We are saying: the death penalty is prohibited by the Constitution, as is torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. The same is stipulated by the international norms recognized by Georgia. Death by torture of President Saakashvili, like any prisoner, is a crime and contradicts the international obligations of Georgia.

Besides, since president Saakashvili is under the effective control of the Government, the responsibility for violating his dignity, life and health lies with the state authorities.

His death by torture will have extremely harmful internal and external political consequences for Georgia. The fatal outcome will not only deepen the current polarization in the country, but also destroy any chance of overcoming it in the near future.

It should be taken into account that the Georgian society has not yet recovered from the trauma of the violent death of the first president.

The questions will deepen in the international community as well: whether Georgians are on the list of nations that respect the principles of the rule of law and are capable of peaceful democratic change of government and coexistence without political persecution.

And finally, a historical process is taking place in Europe today - the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression. What will be the historical verdict against us, if the Georgian state, in these historical days, kills Mikheil Saakashvili, Putin’s “personal enemy”, by torture in prison?

More than 130 former high political and administrative officials joined this statement. Collection of signatures continues. Anyone wishing to sign can contact any of the signatories and add their signature”, - reads the joint statement.